As concerned the
foolish white world which has no eyes, he was a slim and young
officer in the Wuddars; but his own people knew he was Jan Chinn,
who had made the Bhil a man; and, believing, they hastened to
carry his words, careful never to alter them on the way.
Because the savage and the child who plays lonely games have one
horror of being laughed at or questioned, the little folk kept
their convictions to themselves; and the Colonel, who thought he
knew his regiment, never guessed that each one of the six hundred
quick-footed, beady-eyed rank-and-file, to attention beside their
rifles, believed serenely and unshakenly that the subaltern on the
left flank of the line was a demi-god twice born - tutelary deity
of their land and people. The Earth-gods themselves had stamped
the incarnation, and who would dare to doubt the handiwork of the
Earth-gods?
Chinn, being practical above all things, saw that his family name
served him well in the lines and in camp. His men gave no
trouble - one does not commit regimental offences with a god in
the chair of justice - and he was sure of the best beaters in the
district when he needed them. They believed that the protection
of Jan Chinn the First cloaked them, and were bold in that belief
beyond the utmost daring of excited Bhils.
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